Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SELENE
Bren took me to a small restaurant just off the town center, tucked between a bookshop and a narrow storefront with lace curtains in the window. The exterior was plain enough that I might have walked past it without a second glance, but the moment we stepped inside, the warmth hit me.
Low golden light illuminated the room filled with dark wood tables and chairs. The quiet murmur of conversations blended with a soft, lyrical Celtic ballad, and the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat kicked my appetite into full gear.
The best part? The restaurant scene was normal. Utterly, blessedly normal.
I exhaled for what felt like the first time all day.
A hostess greeted Bren by name and led us to a table near the back, half screened by a wooden partition carved with climbing ivy. It was private without feeling hidden. I approved before I could remind myself I wasn’t here to admire his choices.
Bren held my chair while I sat, and then he claimed the one across from me.
I watched him settle into it the way I’d caught myself watching him since he’d arrived on my doorstep.
I searched for the rigid edges I associated with him, and found they’d softened, or at least had been temporarily set aside.
Or maybe I was just seeing what I wanted to see. I didn’t enjoy being at odds with the man. There was enough grit between us already, but if we could come together, if he trusted me enough to give me the truth, what would that look like?
I opened my menu, not wanting to delve too deeply into that idea.
A server arrived to request our drink order, and Bren turned to me with a questioning look. I quickly shook my head. “You choose.”
He turned to the young woman. “Give us your best Nebbiolo.”
Bren set his menu aside without glancing at it as she strode away.
My heart thrummed in my chest as I adopted a nonchalant air. “You’ve been here before.”
He dipped his head once. “Often enough.”
I looked around. “It’s nice.”
He lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “It’s reliable.”
An unexpected chuckle slipped from me. “Is that how you choose restaurants?”
Bren accepted my subtle jab with a quiet smile. “It’s how I choose most things.”
I rolled my eyes in a teasing, sarcastic gesture. “I suppose reliable is a good thing. Is that why you hired Cillian’s firm to do your restoration? We do have a reputation for being reliable.”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “It’s one reason.”
There it was again. The man’s simple words always seemed to carry more weight than they should, and I could never figure out what was behind them.
I looked back at my menu, struggling to focus on it. I was too aware of him across the table, too aware of how the candlelight flickered in his gray eyes. I’d been trying to cure the awareness of him that had jumped to life at the pub that first night. I was failing completely.
At least the tension between us remained relaxed. I’d expected this dinner to feel obligatory and stiff. Like a professional apology dressed up in a tablecloth.
Instead, it felt easy.
On the surface, that seemed like the best possible outcome, but I couldn’t ignore the hints of danger that accompanied it.
The server returned with our glasses of wine. Bren ordered the lamb, and I chose the roast. As she walked away, a silence settled between us, weighted with questions and not enough answers.
I took a sip of wine, pausing for a moment to savor it before I dove into the reason I’d agreed to dinner. “You said you owed me more than one apology.”
“I did.”
“And?”
His fingers rested against the base of his wine glass. “The castle was more reactive than I expected today. It doesn’t usually respond like that.”
I stared at him. “That is an extremely elegant way of describing the floor moving beneath my feet.”
He kept his gaze on his glass as he chuckled lightly. “Yes.”
I shook my head at the lack of detail in his apology. “Do you always describe alarming things as if they’re administrative inconveniences?”
He lifted his gaze to me then, his gray eyes unreadable. “Only when I’m trying not to alarm someone.”
I released a soft huff. “It didn’t work.”
A faint smile crossed his mouth. “I noticed.”
The bread arrived. I tore off a piece and buttered it, buying myself time. After I swallowed a bite, I focused on him and tried again. “What happened in that hall today was tied to the circle inlay. I know it, so don’t deny it.”
When he didn’t respond, I continued. “You told me it was a boundary.”
“That’s true.”
I cocked my head. “But it’s not a boundary in the traditional sense, is it?”
“No.”
His answer sent a shiver through me. It was also extremely lacking. I opened my hands wide in frustration. “And?”
He looked at me for a long moment and released a resigned breath. “The castle sits on old ground. Older than most people realize. Certain spaces hold things in place. Or keep them from shifting.”
I leaned back against my chair. “That is also not an answer. It’s a deflection.”
Bren nodded slowly. “It’s the one I can give you tonight.” His tone made it clear that there were others.
The man certainly knew how to frustrate me. Physically and mentally. “Fine. Then tell me something else.” I held his gaze. “Whose castle is it, really?”
The stiffness in his posture eased. “It belonged to my family.”
His statement caught me by surprise. “Your ancestors?”
Bren lifted his chin. “Yes.”
He kept his expression neutral, but I sensed that more brewed beneath that calm exterior. My thoughts slid to the dark center stone of the inlay, the place he never crossed. “That’s why you’re invested in the restoration.”
“That is part of it.”
“And the rest?”
He looked down briefly, turning the stem of his glass between his fingers before releasing it. “It should not have been left to decay.”
That one felt honest. More honest than the careful answers that had come before it.
I sat back slightly. “You said, belonged. Since you required the council’s approval to begin restoration, does that mean they own it now?”
His gaze drifted across the restaurant as he huffed in derision. “They claim stewardship.”
“That sounds like a no.”
Bren whipped his gaze back to me, a hard look in his eyes. “It is a no.”
Finally, a crack in the man’s composed exterior. I’d sensed animosity between him and some of the council members, and now I understood why.
He continued. “They took ownership some time ago, under the pretense of preservation.”
“Yet they haven’t cared for it like they should have. I can see why you dislike them.”
He snorted. “Dislike is putting it mildly.”
A light laugh escaped before I could stop it. “That might be the most passionate thing I’ve heard you say.”
The look in his eyes sharpened. “Is that what you’re about? Passion?”
My breath stilled, and it took me several mortifying seconds to respond. “When it comes to my work, yes. Absolutely.”
Thank the gods the server arrived with our food at that moment.
For several minutes we focused on dinner instead of each other. The roast was tender and savory, the accompanying mixture of root vegetables delightful. Across from me, Bren seemed to enjoy his meal, though now and then his attention drifted back to me.
I noticed every time.
I paused in devouring my food and lifted my glass. “If it belonged to your family, why not buy it back?”
He snorted and met my gaze. “Don’t you think I’ve tried? The council considers it too valuable.”
“Too valuable? That makes even less sense.” I shook my head as I slid my fork into a roasted carrot.
“Most sites with that level of age have lost more. The bones of that building are extraordinary. The central structure is intact.” I was thinking aloud now, and I knew it.
“They’re letting that sit, and yet call it too valuable to sell? ”
He nodded in agreement as he chewed and swallowed. “For years.”
I couldn’t begin to fathom the logic behind that decision. “That should be criminal.”
The look in his eyes shifted from irritation to warm approval. “Yes. It should.”
I sipped my wine before I could do anything else with that. Shared outrage over structural neglect might be the thing that dragged me straight into trouble.
He lifted his glass, gesturing toward me as he spoke. “It’s a fight I’ll never abandon. Cormac believes I should focus more on keeping the surrounding land from them.”
I drew my brows in interest. “The surrounding land? Do you mean the forested area right around it? The lake?”
A cunning smile curved his lips. “I mean the first inch when you step outside the castle door, the lake and beyond, all the way to the grove and more. That’s all mine, and they’ll never get it. It’s my birthright.”
I widened my eyes as I absorbed what he’d said. “That entire area? That’s a lot of land.”
Bren nodded in satisfaction. “It is, and it cannot be taken from me. My father gifted it to my mother, and it passed to me after her death.” He scoffed. “Doesn’t mean they haven’t tried.”
He’d imparted so much in those few sentences. “I’m sorry to hear about your mom. That must have been hard.”
Several emotions played in his expression, from grief to wariness to an absence of any. “She’s been gone a while now. I try not to think of her too often.”
A pang of loss echoed through me as well. “I lost my mom many years ago too. I was just a kid, but luckily my aunt, who raised me, was an amazing woman who loved me more than I deserved.”
Bren lifted a hand between us and shook his head. “There’s no such thing as being loved too much. Never say that to me again.”
His words were fierce, and I found myself agreeing with a nod.
Afterward, our dinner conversation sputtered. It had taken many twists and turns, and I had no idea what to talk about next. We focused on our meals for several minutes while I racked my mind for my next question.
Losing my aunt had devastated me, but I supposed I could now lay claim to a house on a small plot of land. That he owned such a vast amount of space was incredible. I cocked my head. “Does your land include the waterfall?”
A smile played at the corner of his mouth. “Several, in fact. Which area are you asking after?”
I relaxed against my chair as I tried to recall the name, relieved to be moving into safer territory. “It’s only a few minutes from Cillian’s house. The one you pass on your way to the…” Ah, hell.
His brow quirked up in interest, and I had no choice but to finish my sentence. “On the way to the grove.”
His resulting grin suggested he recognized and enjoyed my discomfort. “Oh, that waterfall. The one very close to the moonlit grove.”
There was no longer a way for me to save face, so I gave him an embarrassed smile and nodded. “Yes, that one.”
He huffed a soft chuckle. “Ah, sure. It’s all the same. My family roots are strong in this area, and I’m the sole survivor. I own quite a bit of land, though its value is pointless because I’ll never sell.”
From where I sat, it seemed he already enjoyed a comfortable life without profiting from the land. “It’s beautiful country. We have stunning mountain areas back where I’m from, but it’s nothing like the fairy-kissed forests around here. There’s truly something magical in those spaces.”
The look in his eyes turned thoughtful. “I agree it’s beyond compare.” He studied me for a long moment before continuing. “My favorite of all is the clearing where you kissed me.”
I choked on a swallow of wine, needing a second sip to clear my throat. “You can’t just toss that out without warning.”
An actual laugh escaped him, amusement crinkling the corners near his eyes. “Why not? I thought we already agreed not to pretend it didn’t happen.”
I blinked several times, trying to regain my bearings. “Well, yes, but…”
Bren grinned. “You left so fast that night that you missed the best parts of the grove.”
I drew my brows. “That’s because you pushed me away.” And immediately disappeared, faster than humanly possible. That still bothered me.
He ignored my comment and continued. “The way the full moon shimmers on the pond is like no other. The sounds of fairies dancing in the trees when the breeze blows.” He paused to give me a convincing nod.
“And there’s the unique shade of early purple orchids that can’t be found anywhere else in Killarney.
You really need to get back there when you can. ”
I found myself enchanted by his descriptions. “I will, for sure.”
He dipped his head in an approving nod. “Under a full moon is best if you want the full effect.”
I smiled as I stared into his eyes. “You obviously love it. You should write travel brochures. The way you describe it makes me want to go right now.”
Bren lifted his shoulders in a casual shrug. “We could. The weather is clear, perfect for viewing. It’s not long now before the moon will be at its brightest, and you’ve brought a coat, so you won’t get cold.”
I froze, wondering if he was seriously inviting me back to the grove where we’d shared a passionate kiss. I forced a light laugh. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
His smile remained as he shook his head dismissively. “Ah, Selene. We’re two adults, and we’ve cleared the air between us. There’s no harm, and I promise to behave if you will.”
I folded my arms and eyed this new, friendlier version of the man who haunted my dreams. He tempted me with an experience that would likely surpass my first visit to the waterfall, and that had been incredible.
Plus, he owned the land. He’d know it like the back of his hand, and the idea of watching the full moon shimmer on that peaceful pond urged me not to miss the opportunity.
I hesitated long enough to inhale and exhale, giving my logical side time to protest. It didn’t. “Fine. Let’s go. I would love to see your version of that area.”
His eyes sparkled as if my answer delighted him. “It’ll be grand.”